Oar.



J. SCHMIDT, JR. OAR.

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JOSEPH SCHMIDT, JR., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

OAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

la'i tented July 8, 1913.

Application filed May 22, 1911. Serial No. 628,613.

To all QUILOHL 1' If may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnri-r Sonuin'r, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, .have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in boat propelling ears; and has for its principal object to provide an oar having folding-blades capable of opening out and closing up automatically in accordance with the direction .in which the car is being moved in the water.

A further object is to provide a device of this character that -an be used without raising the same out of the ater for the return stroke.

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of an oar embodying the improved features. Fig. 2 is a front view in perspective. Fig. 3 is a plan. Fig. 4 is an end elevation.

A may represent the shaft, and B the oar blade.

In this instance the blade is made in two parts comprising the blade members or wings 5 and 6, which have a movenlent and action similar to a pair of wings. The shaft is provided with a thickened body-part 7 formed on the outer end thereof and which slopes away on each side to a rear sharp edge 8, as best shown in Fig. l.

The forward or inner edge of the body 7 is beveled on each side to provide shoulders 9 and 10. The adjacent edges of the blade wings are beveled as at a, to correspond to and come to a close bearing on the shoulders 9 and 10 in strengthening the connection of the wings and limiting the opening out movement thereof as they come to a stop on opposite sides. The companion wings are secured together in their operative relation by a number of hinges 1.1 and clipplates 12 rigidly secured to the body-part 7.

The clip-platcs 12 are provided with terminal ends 1;) extending outward at right angles, the extreme ends of which are in turned and provid a slop-rest to limit; the closing movement ol" the collapsible blade uings, as indicated by dotted lines, Fig. l. The extreme closed position of the wings provides a separating space '14- so that the pressure of the water can act to return the same to their open working position for each power stroke. lly this arrangement the oars need not be raised out of the water for the return stroke and will have a li'calhcring action. The rear edge 8 of the bo(ly- )arl being drawn to a sharp edge and the surface line of the thicker portion being on a line with or a little outside of the folded position of the blade wings, offers the least possible resistance on the back movement.

In practical working, the blade-wings open and close automatically with each stroke, the water acting as a cushion so that the change of position is gradual without jar or resulting injury to the oar-parts.

llaving thus described my invention, what I claim is The combination with an oar-shaft provided with a thickened body-part formed on the outer end thereof, of companion wing-blades having an operative hinged connection therewith, and the clip-platcs secured to said body-part and having ends extending outward at right angles, the extremc ends of which are inturncd and form a stop-rest for the closing movement of said blades.

ln testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J( )SlGPl l SCHMT D'l, Jn.

\Vitnesses:

A. ll. Summon, (-lr. Fl. (lnunen.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

